Photos shot at the end of April, and I managed to drag out the final edits until now; the photographer's computer probably still holds evidence of my "photo nagging." In truth, over these past three months I did hesitate about whether to edit them, because this outfit has so many details—the fur collar, belts, buckles on the gloves, and metallic pieces on the boots. Editing them carelessly could easily look fake, so I kept waiting until I was in the right mindset.
Before posting, the photographer asked if posting on Qixi was to gain followers, claiming it could net 500 female fans. Honestly, I knew in my heart that if just 5 friends were willing to click and take a look, I'd be content—after all, slacking on editing means missing the traffic window. Still, if anyone is willing to drop a "1" in the comments to keep me company on Qixi, haha!
Returning to the look itself. I was anxious when picking this outfit because the combination of blue, grayish-black, white, and that massive fur collar could easily look jarring if textures weren't handled right. We specifically found a retro dark space, darkening the ambient light while applying side-rear backlighting on the subject to outline the edges of the fur collar bit by bit. Looking at that glowing, soft fur texture in the photo, it really makes the character pop instantly. That top hard light was also spot-on, illuminating the hair to show depth rather than a flat, dead white.
I remember Shanghai was already quite hot on the shooting day, and stifling in gloves and a wig in the studio for so long was intense. This Shanghai photoshoot booking came with accessory challenges too—the metallic watch strap on the wrist looked cool, but wearing it for long left deep marks. The boot soles were ridiculously thick, making it tough to balance on that red velvet couch, but I had to tough it out for the presence.
Especially the sunglasses prop—I didn't intend to add them initially, but during shooting, looking down at the lens through those tinted lenses or lightly pulling the frame edge instantly brought out that effortless, nonchalant poise. Compared to staring straight at the camera, wearing sunglasses adds an extra layer of mystery. The black leather sheen on the gloves was a great addition to the Cosplay photography, making the entire character look sleeker and sharper.
The clothing tailoring was intriguing too: teal gem inlays on the chest, white paneling at the waist, and black geometric patterns on the trouser legs gave the silhouette a fascinating mix of European vintage royalty and modern aesthetics. The addition of a Black tights outfit provided a great transition, preventing large white areas from feeling top-heavy while anchoring the visual focus on the lower body.
In fact, before shooting this character, I checked out many excellent works from fellow creators. Everyone's understanding of texture differs—some lean towards bright and vibrant, others toward dark and reserved. This time, I leaned toward being seated at a high-stakes gamble yet remaining entirely composed. Rather than intense poses, a seated posture or a casual hand rest conveys the inner tension of the character far better. Perhaps it was this slow, relaxed state that let me procrastinate from late April until now to post these photos.
While editing, I often spent ages obsessing over stray hair on the fur collar edge. The original raw file preserved details exceptionally well. Clearing messy flyaway hairs and tweaking clothing folds is tedious work, but seeing the final edit open on screen brings a strong sense of satisfaction.
I realized I'm really not someone who likes chasing trends to post photos; rather than worrying about algorithms, I prefer ensuring the accuracy of the final piece. Luckily, these photos didn't disappoint after the effort two months ago—both the ambient light mood and skin tone processing earned praise from the photographer.
Many ask why this character is so widely beloved. I think it's not just because of his iconic tone and gestures, but rather that elegance and slightly arrogant composure maintained even in complex environments. I tried two composition styles this time: a low-angle shot sitting on a red couch, and an interactive shot facing forward while taking off sunglasses, hoping to present distinct feels.
Lastly, I must say next time I shoot new sets, I'll try hard not to delay posting spring photos until summer—time really flies too fast. Taking advantage of this set, I'd like to say to everyone behind the screen: even if Qixi is spent alone, seeing a bit of relaxation and ease from these photos makes for a pleasant mental getaway.